The Law of Supply and Demand

With this weekend’s Bringing the World Home Berlin summit fresh in my mind, I stumbled upon Joseph S. Nye’s op-ed piece in today’s New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/29/opinion/29nye.html). Quoting Colin Powell, Nye wrote that future world leaders who spend time studying in America and then bring the lessons of their experience back to their homelands are an invaluable asset to America. I can only agree, and after speaking to over 100 enthusiastic American students currently studying abroad about the challenges of sharing the experiences gained abroad with fellow Americans at home, I immediately linked this to the role of Americans becoming foreign students abroad. I also realized, however, that there might be a slight gap in demand. I don’t want to sound cynical, but the advantages of having foreign students in the U.S. seem more measureable than the advantages of sending Americans abroad. Exchanges in both directions lead to cross-cultural understanding, but educating foreign students in the U.S. also happens to be a $13 billion industry.

But Nye also wrote about the steep decline in foreign students enrolled in American universities. Complications in obtaining or renewing student visas has made it increasingly difficult for foreigners to study in the U.S. Nye cites the example of the Chinese student who went home for his father’s funeral and was not able to return to Harvard for another five months, and an entire op-ed piece is devoted to a Nigerian student’s difficulties renewing her visa. This will have a palpable economic effect on universities’ pocket books — indeed, many are already very worried.

The interesting thing is that there is no lack of foreign students wishing to study in the U.S. and certainly no lack of interest on the part of American universities in welcoming them. Supply and demand seem to be there, but complications in bureaucracy have introduced an imposing barrier to fulfilling that demand with the available supply (apologies to any economists out there for this oversimplification). Essentially, I think the same thing happens to American students who study abroad and want to share their experience with fellow Americans. I firmly believe that Americans — and especially students — are eager to learn about the world. If the message is conveyed too abrasively, however, many people will erect their own barriers to the unfamiliar. If one then considers that many returning American students spend their first few weeks at home struggling with the unexpectedness of reverse culture shock, the hurdles standing in the way of cross-cultural dialogue start looking higher and higher.

While these challenges might paint a grim picture, I am very hopeful that things can change for the better. It was so inspiring to speak to students whose attentiveness and critical thinking made obvious just how much they are committed to promoting these kinds of open dialogues. Young leaders should take the reins in their hands and work to pique the interest of their friends and fellow students — just as summit participants have done. Openness — toward other cultures and people as well as to one’s own countrymen — and enthusiasm for learning and exchange will be the operative factors in this effort, and I am heartened to see so much of both. I also think it’s a great sign when people of Nye’s reputation and caliber start writing about this kind of question for a public audience.

2 comments

My thoughts exactly. I would also add that there is an additional dilemma for a number of foreign students coming to the US to study who are often saddled on the one hand with a desire to return to their home countries to work or engage in public policy and on the other hand a desire to stay in the United States where income and opportunites may be more rewarding, leading to a certain ‘brain-drain’ in some counties.
On a related note, I learned through my expericence as a study-abroad advisor and alumn just how frustrating returning to the US can be for students who lack a positive outlet or platform to voice their experiences and insight gained from their semester or year abroad. Study abroad programs often do an invaluable job at preparing students to leave (often out of concern for liabilities), but lack the incentive to follow up and direct students to local and national resources and organizations where they might be able to continue to be involved and sustain their momentum. Some universities have taken note of this, but generally a lack of resources prevent them from doing more. I am very excited that AID might help to fill this gap and offer students a great way to interact, share stories, and put their passions into positive action after they return. Contacting foreign student and faculty on US campuses and engaging them in this process will also be invaluable. In my experience, I noticed an unnecessary and unfortunate disconnect between the two spheres of ‘incoming’ and ‘outgoing’ study abroad participants. I think these two groups should be seen as complimentary and interlocked elements of a greater process of inter-cultural and transnational dialogue. AID offers a great platform to bridge this gap and I have a lot of hope following the Berlin Summit that this momentum will lead to some very positive outcomes.
From Vienna,
Brooke

Brooke,
I absolutely agree with what you said about, “Study abroad programs often do an invaluable job at preparing students to leave, but lack the incentive to follow up…”. It’s called re-entry shock, and I know I felt it, as well as the students I went abroad with, and friends I’ve met since. There are some organizations out there that strive to help the student before, during & after their study abroad. I don’t think students realize the importance of finding a provider who will help them after they come home- understandably, as all their attention is focused on going and living there- not the after affects.
Some providers offer alumni programs where students can get together & share ideas on how to spread their experiences, or how to continue, as you said, the momentum that can have such a strong influence on thier peers. I know I wanted to share the best way that I could, so I found a job with a locally-based study abroad provider (CEA – http://www.GoWithCEA.com), and it’s truly been the best way for me personally to share the wealth, so to speak, of study abroad. I always encourage students who ask about careers in study abroad to check out their schools’ offices and remind them that international business is always exciting, and looks great on a resume. Anything to help, since I know what it’s like to be in thier shoes.
It’s good to know that as a study abroad advisor you were advising students of the after-affects of studying abroad. It’s people like you/things like that that really do make a difference.
Thanks!